Ever think what it would be like to swim in a washing machine.....

Well after the hour and a half I spent in the pool this morning I can tell you EXACTLY what your cloths go through, and I LOVED it!

I have done triathlons in the past, and the swim, specifically the swim start, has always terrified me. I'm not a strong swimmer so when I felt someone hit me, someone's hands during my kick, or if my hands hit someone else's feet I would panic and lose my stroke rhythm. I also tended to go out too fast, exhaust myself and end up doing the back stroke, or breast stroke just to finish the swim portion. After spending Friday night and the majority of Saturday with three professional triathletes, and 20 to 30 other "novice" triathletes, I believe I have conquered my fear.

Our day started in the pool at All Star Fitness, learning to sight while breathing (not as easy as it sounds), how to draft, and finally getting used to swimming close to your fellow racers. I happily spent an hour and a half getting kicked, hit, having my goggles ripped off, and being crawled over. Everything that I experience during a swim start. Having it in the safety of a clinic experience made it easy to be come "comfortable" with it, and learn how not to panic. Not to mention that we probably swam over a mile with all the 50's and 100's that we repeated to get used to each new technique they were giving us. Had the clinic ended here I could have easily walked away very happy, thinking money well spent. Instead it continued on to the bike, just like a typical triathlon.....

So off to the spin room we go. Some people changed gear, but since you don't change during a race I stayed in my wet tri shorts and top. As a some what experienced racer, and someone who's ridden a bicycle more than I few times; I know the importance of using body glide, or chamois butter..... I still trying to figure out how I "forgot" to apply any before I left the house this morning. I stuck it out, and managed the spin portion, in a nice and "warm" room. Since many races in the PNW happen in the summer months (if we get a summer) they pro's wanted us to experience the heat we might encounter. By the end of the bike training I couldn't tell if I was still wet from the swim, or wet from sweat . Either way, due to fantastic fueling advice I headed out to the run portion, with energy and excitement.

Sadly a foot injury I've been nursing for a few weeks, decided the run wasn't in the books for me today. However, I was on the go from 9am until 2pm; longer than a typical sprint distance triathlon, and hopefully longer than my upcoming marathon. I feel ready to tackle a mock tri in less than two weeks, and am looking forward to increasing my training in the upcoming months, not to mention the open water swim practices that will surely be around the corner also.

So a big huge Thank You to Athlete's Lounge, and the Athlete's Lounge Pro Team for putting on such an amazing clinic this weekend.

Training -- week 3 (How'd I get lead in my legs?)

I had my third track workout last night….. and I honestly think that track coaches have a slightly sadistic streak. Well, ok I know they push to make us better athletes, but when I posted our workout on Facebook last night, and a friend (who qualified for the Boston Marathon) commented on it stating it was more of a track-work out than he’s done before. He even used an explicative to describe his amazement. Last night we did a 20x400-relay style workout. For those of you who don’t speak track (like me) that translates to 20 laps around the track with a partner, one of you running at a time. So I partnered with Dan, who runs oh let’s say maybe 3 minutes per mile faster than me; each time he was running I was “resting”, which translates to trying to catch my breath in time for my next lap. Each time I was running Dan was lounging waiting for me to make it around the track. Everyone else partnered with someone around their same pace, but not me, nope I had to choose someone faster! I honestly wanted to ask to switch partners several times, and by lap 7 I wanted to call it a night, and say I was done; my legs felt like lead and my breathing with labored with wonderful seasonal allergies. I had a quick conversation with myself and asked what Ken or Cal would have done; knowing they didn’t give up helped me reset my mind and keep moving around the track. Dan was an awesome partner encouraging me every time we switched off, he even ran my last lap with me, cheering me on to sprint the final 100 meters. I dug deep and made the final push…… without collapsing. We weren’t even the last team to finish either.

What made track so much more special yesterday, was that my track coach told me and another teammate that she was facing a potentially devastating diagnosis this week. She didn’t remember the name of the illness but it had to do with lymphoma and autoimmune issues. Instantly knowing what this could mean, I told her privately that I’m a registered bone marrow donor (www.bethematch.org) and if she, for any reason, needed a donor, I would be right there to help. I have no idea what God/Fate has in store for me, but ways to support people with cancer, or help in fighting cancer keep coming into my life. First it was the DetermiNation program, then Be the Match, and now just being there for someone in need. Knowing that I can make a difference for someone like my awesome coach is meaningful to me. Yes, I know I called her sadistic earlier, but it’s more of her workouts then her personally. I know that without her help I wouldn’t be getting faster, or be truly prepared for the marathon in October.

I have a swim team on Thursday (I’m also doing 5, maybe 7, triathlons this year) and a lllllooonnnngggg run this weekend, so check back soon to see if Jon manages to drown me on Thursday, or if I make it through the run this weekend.

Training -- week 2

I joked today that both my track coach and my swim coach have been trying to kill me these last few weeks. It was a light hearted comment, but in reality I know that they are pushing me the way that Ken, Cal, and Jane have all pushed through chemo treatments, and nasty side effects of chemo. While Coach Christina may enjoy having me do "Oregon Intervals" (squats followed by a 100m sprint, then burpees followed by a 100m sprint, then jumping jills followed by a 100m sprint, then push-ups followed a 100m sprint, and REPEAT 6 times) I'm enjoying the strength and conditioning. I know that I'm going to need it to face 26.2 miles. Coach Jon is going to increase my lung capacity if it drowns me. To me it's a small price to pay, to be able to breath. The dive down and swim across the pool reminds me that I can breath, and that I have the option to train this way. So with Ken and Cal at my side, I will face swim and track practice this week, and will gladly take on whatever my coaches throw at me. They faced their challenge with determination, and I'm going to face mine the same way.

Cancer, and my family

In 1998, my Aunt Jane was diagnosed with lung cancer. As a non-smoker and in good health this took my family by surprise. Jane has bravely faced her fight, having endured repeated rounds of chemotherapy and doses of radiation, and survived having half of her lung removed. Eventually she was given a clean bill of health, but after two more reoccurrences, she is yet again battling a cancer that has spread and now ravages her body.

In 2006, Aunt Jane's husband, my Uncle Cal, was diagnosed with mesotheleoma. Uncle Cal showed his strength battling his cancer for two years past the six months he was originally given. I was blessed to have shared a significant part of my life with him, and to spend a fair amount of time with him before he passed away. I was lucky enough to visit with him during one of his last hospitalizations, where we were able to talk together and say our goodbyes. Even then, he expressed his love for me, his wishes for my future, and let me know he would always look over me. My Uncle Cal passed away in the summer of 2009.

Shortly after my Uncle Cal passed away, in 2009, my dear friend Ken was also diagnosed with lung cancer. Having known Ken for over 30 years, I have always been amazed at what a caring, giving, and loving person he is. Even during his battle with a horrid cancer, his faith has remained strong and resolute. He passed away on April 7, 2011. But even during his final days, he has continued to exhibit his true nature, as a kind and thoughtful person. Ken was also a non-smoker, he previously enjoyed spending time in his garden, going for runs, bike rides and hikes, and just marveling in the miracles around him.

Each of these people have been special to me and to my family. They have each helped shape me into the women that I am. They all showed bravery in the face of the diagnosis; through their battle with chemotherapy they exhibited determination to battle for as long as they could.  Their time on earth has been cut short. Ken's three granddaughters will not know him, aside from the memories that we share with them. Jane and Cal's granddaughters will not have their grandparents at their graduations or their weddings.
Why am I telling you all of this? I am sharing these stories with you for one reason only: I want to stop cancer. I want to make a difference in the honor of each of these amazing people, and I am going to do that through the American Cancer Society's DetermiNation program. As part of the DetermiNation team, I will run the Portland Marathon, drawing on the strength and determination that Ken, Jane and Cal all showed. My final race of this season will be one step towards a lifesaving event. Yes, training will be tough, but for me the finish line is just the beginning. My completing this race in their honor will help save lives from every cancer in every community.

It's up to us to change the course of cancer - and I believe in the work the American Cancer Society is doing to save lives. Every day, they're helping people stay well and get well, they're funding and conducting research to find cures, and they're rallying communities to join them in fighting back. More than 11 million Americans who have a history of cancer will celebrate another birthday this year. Please support me with a donation so that together, with the American Cancer Society, we can help save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.